Quebec's Digital Health Record system plagued by critical errors
Premier says she was unaware of overdoses and chemotherapy delays tied to the DSN rollout. Doctors report missing requests and mounting frustration.
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Quebec's new Digital Health Record system is leaving frontline workers scrambling and patients at risk, yet the province's political leadership said Friday it had no idea the problems existed.
Premier Christine Fréchette told the National Assembly she was "absolutely unaware" of overdoses allegedly caused by the DSN or delays in chemotherapy treatments—issues raised by Le Devoir and Quebecor media outlets after doctors spoke out.
The DSN launched as a pilot project a month ago in two CIUSSSs in Montreal and Mauricie. Doctors have reported treatment delays, missing patient requests, and what some described as system failures forcing them to work around the tool to keep care moving.
During Question Period, Opposition House Leader André Fortin pressed Fréchette on the human cost: "There have been overdoses, there have been chemotherapy treatments postponed by four weeks, there are doctors who want to retire because they're at their wits' end, and the premier tells us: 'I didn't know, I didn't know any of that.'"
Health Minister Sonia Bélanger defended the rollout, arguing it was normal for a new system to experience problems in its early stages. "Listen, we're capable of making this change," she said. "I've been out in the field, I know the system, I've met with doctors. Honestly, we've implemented this well; it's normal for there to be adjustments."
Fréchette said Santé Québec assured her that "all prescribed deadlines are being met" and "this is a line that must not be crossed." The three opposition parties called for immediate resolution of the issues.